The Federal Department of the Environment is appealing a ruling by the Federal Administrative Court to revoke the operating permit of the Mühleberg nuclear power plant next year, in the absence of a comprehensive maintenance plan.

The appeal comes as part of a jurisdiction dispute. 

Federal Environment officials granted Mühleberg an unlimited permit, so long as the independent nuclear regulator monitored maintenance issues.

After the court ruling, it is unclear which agency is responsible for what tasks with nuclear sites.

Previously, Mühleberg operator BKW also said it would appeal the ruling, intending to run the plant until 2022.